Mo Li

Upon hearing Ye Li's words, Duke Hua was momentarily stunned, clearly caught off guard. Mo Xiuyao remained silent, calmly sipping his tea as he waited for the duke's response. It took a long while before Duke Hua finally regained his composure. He looked at the composed couple before him and asked, "What is going on here? Wang Ye, you..."

Mo Xiuyao set down his teacup and said apologetically, "The matter arose suddenly, and I regret not informing you beforehand, Old Duke."

It took Duke Hua another long moment to fully grasp the situation. He let out a sigh and glared at Mo Xiuyao in displeasure. "Who needs your apology? I just want to know why you’ve brought the Empress to Prince Ding's Estate for no reason! Does Wang Ye not think there are already enough eyes watching this place?"

Hearing this, Ye Li smiled faintly. "We’ve troubled you with our worries, Old Duke. Indeed, we acted impulsively due to our youth and inexperience."

Duke Hua sighed and looked at Ye Li. "Neither Wang Ye nor Wang Fei are the type to act rashly. I won’t ask why, but please summon the Empress. I will arrange for her return to the palace."

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao exchanged glances. They hadn’t expected to persuade Duke Hua with just a few words to let them keep the Empress. However, since Feng Zhiyao had already taken the risk to bring her out, they couldn’t allow Duke Hua to take her away before confirming whether Feng Zhiyao had truly failed to convince the Empress.

Mo Xiuyao turned to Duke Hua and said calmly, "That’s precisely why I must apologize to you, Old Duke. For now, we cannot let you take her back."

"Why not?" Duke Hua frowned.

The news that the Empress had been abducted from the palace by Prince Ding's Estate was entirely unexpected. He had rushed over in hopes of leveraging the estate’s influence to investigate the matter, only to be met with this outcome. Whether for his personal ties with Prince Ding's Estate or for the relationship between Great Chu and the Northwest, this incident absolutely could not be made public. Thus, his proposed solution was the best course of action for all parties involved. He couldn’t understand why Prince Ding and his consort would oppose it.

Ye Li sighed helplessly. It seemed Duke Hua was unaware of Feng Zhiyao’s involvement. As such, none of them could predict how he would react upon learning that Feng Zhiyao had acted on his own to abduct the Empress.

Just as Ye Li was about to speak, the Empress’s voice came from the doorway. "Father, I’ve troubled you. I’ll return with you now."

The three turned toward the entrance. The Empress, now without her large cloak, stood at the threshold in her bright yellow phoenix robes, her expression unreadable. As she stepped into the hall, Feng Zhiyao followed behind her. The man in red brocade robes had bloodshot eyes, his face haggard and gloomy—he looked even worse than he had the night before after taking Mo Xiuyao’s palm strike.

"Feng San, what’s wrong with you? You look terrible. Didn’t you see a physician last night?" Ye Li asked lightly.

The moment Duke Hua saw Feng Zhiyao trailing behind the Empress, his expression darkened. However, with Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao present, he said nothing, though his grip on the armrest tightened slightly. Glancing at Duke Hua from the corner of her eye, Ye Li smiled and addressed Feng Zhiyao.Hearing this, the Empress turned back in surprise to glance at Feng Zhiyao. Earlier, she had noticed that Feng Zhiyao looked unwell, but since the two of them had been somewhat at odds, she didn’t press the matter, assuming he simply hadn’t rested well the night before. Now, upon closer inspection, she realized Feng Zhiyao wasn’t just in low spirits—his face bore unmistakable exhaustion and pallor.

“It’s nothing. Thank you for your concern, Wang Fei,” Feng Zhiyao replied hoarsely.

Ye Li frowned. “Xiu Yao didn’t hold back. You should have a physician check on you later to avoid any lasting harm.”

Feng Zhiyao lowered his head in silence, neither refusing nor agreeing.

With Ye Li’s words, the two present immediately understood what had happened. The Empress’s face paled, while Huaguogong’s expression darkened further.

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand dismissively. “Let’s sit down if we have matters to discuss. Hua-jiejie, even if you must return to the palace, there’s no need to rush.” The address of “Hua-jiejie” made the Empress’s eyes redden. In truth, ever since she married Mo Jingqi years ago, Mo Xiuyao had stopped calling her that. This seemingly ordinary term of endearment uncontrollably brought back memories of her carefree days as a young maiden.

Huaguogong studied everyone present for a long moment before finally letting out a deep sigh and gesturing. “Enough. Things have already come to this. A little delay won’t make it any worse.”

Only then did the Empress and Feng Zhiyao take their seats on either side. Feng Zhiyao sat across from Huaguogong, but his gaze remained fixed on the Empress as if no one else existed. Seeing this, Huaguogong frowned but ultimately said nothing.

“Old Duke, do you truly intend to send the Empress back to the palace?” Mo Xiuyao asked Huaguogong calmly. “You must know that news of the Empress’s disappearance has already spread throughout the palace. Even if you manage to return her discreetly now, it will remain a vulnerability should the new emperor or others seek to trouble her in the future.”

Huaguogong shot an irritated glare at Feng Zhiyao. As a seasoned man who had weathered countless storms, he could easily deduce the situation from the current scene. Glancing at his daughter, who sat composedly beside him with an indifferent expression, he sighed helplessly. “And what if she doesn’t return? If it were possible, would our Hua family ever have wished for this…? I understand Your Highness’s meaning, but the Empress’s status is ultimately different from others. If it were discovered in the future that she had been in the Northwest, it would deal a devastating blow to Your Highness’s reputation and that of Prince Ding’s Estate.”

Had the Hua family ever truly wished to marry their daughter to Mo Jingqi when he was still a prince? The Hua family’s wealth and prestige had already reached their zenith. As long as he lived, whichever emperor ascended the throne would have to show the Hua family some respect. A princess consort—or even an empress—had never been a boon to the Hua family. Unfortunately… the late emperor, fearing the Hua family’s closeness to Prince Ding’s Estate, had forcibly tied them to Mo Jingqi’s faction, the heir apparent. When the sovereign commands, the subject has no choice but to obey—how much more so when it was merely an arranged marriage?Duke Hua had always been aware of Feng Zhiyao's existence. However, he had never considered Feng Zhiyao particularly important. It wasn’t that he looked down on him, but rather that Feng Zhiyao was several years younger than the Empress. When the Empress married, Feng Zhiyao was still practically a child. Even if there had been something between them back then, he had dismissed it as a fleeting infatuation of youth. That was why, on the eve of the Empress’s wedding, when Feng Zhiyao sneaked into Duke Hua’s residence, he didn’t lift a finger to stop him—instead, he allowed him to meet her without interference. Otherwise, how could a fifteen-year-old boy have easily breached the heavily guarded Duke’s estate?

These were matters Duke Hua naturally kept to himself. He studied the man in red before him. Now in his thirties, Feng Zhiyao was no longer the frail youth who had once walked away desolate in the rain. His peerless beauty had gained a composed elegance that his younger self had lacked. More importantly, Feng Zhiyao, who was the same age as Mo Xiuyao, had neither married nor taken even a single concubine or bedchamber servant—and Duke Hua knew exactly why. By any measure, Feng Zhiyao would have been the most ideal son-in-law, but alas… As he observed the man’s slightly gaunt yet still strikingly handsome face, Duke Hua’s gaze gradually filled with regret and helplessness.

Ye Li wore a faint smile as she asked softly, “Old Duke, does the Hua family intend to support a new emperor?”

Duke Hua was taken aback by the directness of her question. But seeing Mo Xiuyao calmly sipping tea without objection, he shook his head and replied candidly, based on his understanding of Prince Ding’s Estate and Mo Xiuyao, “I fear the Hua family lacks the strength for such an endeavor.” While the younger generation of the Hua family were no wastrels, none stood out as particularly exceptional. While he could still lend support now, he was already over eighty—who knew how much longer he could last? Once he passed, not only would the Hua family face ruin for backing a new emperor, but the very emperor they supported would likely suffer as well.

“If that’s the case… what will become of Her Majesty the Empress once the new emperor ascends?” Ye Li pressed.

Duke Hua frowned. As Mo Jingqi’s principal wife, the Empress would conventionally be honored as Empress Dowager regardless of which prince succeeded the throne. Yet he also understood that while the Tenth Prince’s birth mother was weak and ineffectual—hardly a threat to the Empress’s authority—women in the deep palace were the most unpredictable. Moreover, if the Tenth Prince eventually took power, the Hua family, having stood idly by, would inevitably face repercussions. The Empress’s life would then become difficult. And if anything happened to the Tenth Prince, as the principal wife, she would still bear the brunt of blame.

Hesitantly, Duke Hua glanced at the Empress. Over the years, he had carried deep guilt for this daughter of his. She had married into the imperial family for the sake of the Hua family, yet because of them, she could only maintain a facade of dignity in the palace—forever denied her husband’s affection, even the chance to bear a son. The Hua family had always known the truth: it wasn’t that the Empress couldn’t conceive a son, but that… Mo Jingqi refused to let her."Father need not be like this. Your daughter has enjoyed boundless honor in this lifetime, with no grievances to speak of," the Empress said with a faint smile, looking into the old man's remorseful eyes. Turning her gaze to Ye Li seated beside Mo Xiuyao, she continued, "I know Wang Fei means well for me, but some things... are simply fated. They cannot be forced."

Ye Li frowned. "Does Her Majesty not wish to see Changle again?"

"Changle?" Duke Hua's eyes widened. "Changle is in the northwest?" Although the Duke's household had dispatched men to protect his granddaughter, for safety's sake, those men had never returned to the Hua residence afterward. Thus, Duke Hua had only surmised that Changle's disappearance meant she had been rescued and hidden away by those sent to protect her, never imagining she was actually in the northwest.

Ye Li smiled. "Naturally. After all, Changle is a young woman—how could we rest easy with her alone and unprotected outside?"

Duke Hua looked from the Empress to Feng Zhiyao, then to Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, his snow-white brows knitting tightly together. Before he could speak, Zhuo Jing entered and reported, "Wang Ye, Wang Fei, someone from the Hua residence has arrived. The Regent summons the old Duke."

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, displeased. "Mo Jingli's airs grow ever more intolerable."

Duke Hua, however, remained unperturbed. Rising to his feet, he said, "Enough. He is, after all, the Regent appointed by the late Emperor. Summoning this old man is not unreasonable. I have troubled Wang Ye and Wang Fei. I shall take my leave now." With that, he strode toward the door.

The Empress also stood and followed Duke Hua out. Feng Zhiyao made to rise as well but felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, rendering him immobile. He could only watch helplessly as the Empress departed.

At the doorway, Duke Hua suddenly turned back and said to the Empress, "Stay at Prince Ding's Estate for now. Without proper preparations, we cannot send you back to the palace yet."

"Father..." The Empress frowned, her voice tinged with worry.

But Duke Hua gave her no chance to protest, declaring firmly, "This is how it shall be. There's no need to see me out."

"Father, I—" As Duke Hua stepped out, the Empress made to follow, only to hear a muffled thud behind her. Feng Zhiyao spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Ah Yao!" The Empress gasped in alarm. Feng Zhiyao managed a strained smile at her, but blood continued to trickle from the corner of his lips, staining his crimson robes with countless dark-red blossoms. The Empress hurried forward to support him, then shot a sharp glance at Mo Xiuyao. "What happened? How could he be injured so severely?"

Mo Xiuyao, utterly unperturbed, sipped his tea and remarked, "I didn't strike him hard last night. He must not want to live anymore." Indeed, Mo Xiuyao's palm strike the previous night had not been severe—which was precisely why he had added a hidden force just now, enough to make Feng Zhiyao cough up blood without inflicting lasting damage.

"You—" The Empress scowled, glaring at Feng Zhiyao in mingled anger and concern.

Ye Li quickly interjected, "Her Majesty should help Feng San back to his quarters to rest. I'll summon a physician at once." Seeing Feng Zhiyao's increasingly pallid face and unsteady frame after vomiting blood, the Empress could think of nothing else. She helped him out, entirely forgetting that servants could have been called to assist.

Watching the Empress struggle to support Feng Zhiyao as they left, Ye Li turned to her husband in puzzlement. "Those two... are they or aren't they?"Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and said, "How would this prince know? I've already dismissed Huaguogong for him and left the person behind. If Feng San still can't manage, then he might as well go die. I'm not his father to think of everything for him."

Ye Li pinched him in exasperation and sighed, "These two..." She shook her head, ultimately at a loss for words. In truth, she somewhat understood the Empress's thoughts. Beyond her duties as the Empress, women of this era were still bound by the notion of not serving two husbands. Perhaps giving up her position as Empress wouldn't be difficult, but accepting Feng Zhiyao might prove even harder.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and pulled her into his arms, chuckling softly, "Don't worry. At the very least, Feng Zhiyao should be able to persuade her to go to the northwest this time. After all, Changle is still there." Once freed from her responsibilities as Empress, Changle would undoubtedly be the most important person to her. As long as the Empress wished to see her daughter, she would surely agree to leave. As for how she would come to accept Feng San—that was truly none of his concern. He was a prince, not a matchmaker.

Ye Li considered Mo Xiuyao's words and found them reasonable. Moreover, even if they had the Empress's best interests at heart, they shouldn't interfere too much in her personal affairs. Whom she chose to accept or reject was her own freedom. It couldn't be said that just because Feng Zhiyao had sacrificed the most for her, the Empress was obliged to accept him. Besides, the situation was already better than they had anticipated—at least Huaguogong didn't seem as intent on bringing the Empress back to the palace. As long as Huaguogong didn't oppose, the obstacles to her leaving the capital would be greatly reduced.

"Did you go a bit too hard on him earlier?" Ye Li recalled Feng Zhiyao coughing up blood—it was genuine, not an act to deceive the Empress.

Mo Xiuyao waved it off indifferently. "Feng San has been brooding these past days, and he never properly tended to his injuries from last night. Coughing up that stagnant blood is good for him. Don't worry about it."

Really? Ye Li was skeptical. Was it truly not because Mo Xiuyao was taking the chance to retaliate against Feng Zhiyao for causing such trouble?

Deep within the prince's residence, in a courtyard shaded by verdant trees, the Empress had changed out of her resplendent phoenix robes. The plain white garments she now wore softened her regal bearing, lending her a delicate beauty and making her appear much younger.

After seeing off the physician who had examined Feng Zhiyao, the Empress clutched the prescription left behind, her delicate brows furrowed. She recalled the physician's words—Feng Zhiyao's prolonged melancholy could harm his longevity. Turning to look at the man lying pale on the bed, dark shadows beneath his eyes, her heart ached. With a quiet sigh, she turned to arrange for the medicine to be prepared.

"Don't go..." The hem of her robe was tugged, Feng Zhiyao's voice weak but clear. His eyes, fixed on her, were filled with hope, sorrow, and caution.

The Empress hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. She sat on the stool by the bed and said, "A-Yao, rest well. I won't leave. I'll have the medicine prepared after you fall asleep."

Feng Zhiyao frowned. "You can't leave even after I fall asleep."The Empress was in a dilemma; she needed to find someone to prepare the medicine. She couldn’t tell if Ye Li had done it on purpose or if Prince Ding's Estate was truly understaffed, but Feng Zhiyao’s courtyard didn’t have a single attendant in sight. If she wanted anything done, she would have to either do it herself or leave the courtyard to find help.

Feng Zhiyao stubbornly stared at the Empress’s face, his expression making it clear that he wouldn’t close his eyes unless she agreed.

Seeing the Empress’s worried frown, Feng Zhiyao murmured softly, “I’m fine… The injuries aren’t serious. I’ll recover even without medicine.” Truthfully, his injuries weren’t that severe. After coughing up that mouthful of blood, the heaviness in his chest had eased considerably. Still, it did hurt quite a bit. Feng Zhiyao didn’t need to think hard to realize that Mo Xiuyao had secretly set him up for a beating. But for the sake of this tender moment with her, even if Mo Xiuyao had beaten him half to death, he would only feel gratitude.

“Nonsense! How can you not take medicine? Do you think you’re still a child?” the Empress scolded gently.

Feng Zhiyao smiled faintly, recalling how, when he was young, he’d often been beaten black and blue by Mo Xiuyao but refused to apply medicine. Back then, this very woman had scolded him the same way.

“Wait a little longer before you go. Don’t sneak away while I’m asleep.”

“Alright, rest well,” the Empress said softly. Her expression softened as if she were seeing the stubborn, astonishingly handsome boy from over a decade ago, who hadn’t even been ten years old yet.

With her promise secured, Feng Zhiyao finally closed his eyes in contentment.

－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－

Dear readers, I’m still in Guilin and haven’t returned home yet. At least I managed to find an internet café to write this. sobs … Not having a computer is agony, and searching for one in an unfamiliar place is even worse. I haven’t been able to reply to comments yet—please forgive me! As for the Empress, she’ll be fine. Whether she ends up with Feng San… well, that’s still to be decided. And regarding the matter of Mo Jingli’s son that everyone’s concerned about… Do you really think I’d spoil it? But the one who got kicked to death definitely wasn’t Mo Jingli’s son. Mo Jingqi wouldn’t take that risk. If he could predict how Mo Jingli would react upon learning that the child wasn’t his, he probably wouldn’t have stirred up so much trouble, been so suspicious of Prince Ding's Estate, or ended up making his own life so miserable. That’s all for now~